Las Cruces, NM – On this edition of PUENTES a la comunidad, bridges to the community, host Emily Guerra spoke with non-profit organization “End of Life Options New Mexico” Board Member, MaryKay Brady about the Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Act in effect in New Mexico June 18, 2021. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bill into law on April 9, 2021 during the NM Legislative session, authorizing medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults and broaden the end-of-life options to patients, their families and healthcare providers. To be eligible for this procedure an individual must be a mentally capable adult terminally ill (with 6 months or less to live.)
New Mexico will be the 11th jurisdiction in the United States to allow residents to use medical aid in dying. The End-of-Life Options Act is the first piece of legislation since the Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act of 1995 that recognized the basic human right to self-determination of individuals to make their own healthcare decisions.
More information can be found at endoflifeoptionsnm.org; compassionandchoices.org; deathwithdignity.org; and acamaid.org.